White House shooting: Officials said the suspect fired at officers, and was then shot in return. He was taken to hospital where he later died. A man was shot dead by US Secret Service agents after he opened fire at a security checkpoint near the White House while President Donald Trump was inside on Saturday evening. The incident led to a lockdown of the area.The US Secret Service shot a person near the White House on Saturday, and a bystander also was shot, a law enforcement official said. (AP )Officials said the suspect approached the checkpoint shortly after 6 pm (local time), fired at officers, and was then shot in return. He was taken to hospital but later died. The suspect, identified as Nasire Best, believed he was Jesus, The New York Post reported, citing court records.One bystander was injured, the US Secret Service said. Authorities said US President Donald Trump was not “impacted”.What we know about the shooting at the White HouseShooter paced area before firing - The incident took place near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, outside the White House complex, at 6 pm. The suspect spent time pacing in the area before approaching a Secret Service checkpoint, Bloomberg reported.Shooter fired thrice - He then pulled a handgun from his bag and began firing at officers stationed there, Bloomberg reported. He fired three times, as per Fox News.30 shots fired, gunman hit - Secret Service agents immediately returned fire, hitting the gunman. About 30 shots were fired, Chris Flanagan, an anchor for the local news channel DC News Now, said.Earlier, officials said he was “down” after being shot, Reuters reported. He was transported to George Washington Hospital, where he later died. Authorities also confirmed that a bystander was hit.Gunman believed he was Jesus? Nasire Best, 21, has been identified as the shooter by multiple news outlets. He was reportedly known to authorities, described as emotionally disturbed, and had previously been subject to a “stay-away order” from the area.Best had previously been detained and arrested for obstructing traffic near the White House and for unlawful entry after bypassing a restricted security post, with court records also noting erratic behaviour, The NYP reported. “[Best] claimed he was Jesus Christ and that he wanted to get arrested,” earlier court records of the incident said.The US Secret Service said it was investigating the incident, while FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed they were assisting. The Metropolitan Police Department asked the public to avoid the area while security operations continued.Lockdown and emergency response at the scene - Following the gunfire, the White House complex was placed under lockdown. Reporters and staff were moved into secure areas, including the press briefing room. ABC News correspondent Selina Wang posted a video describing “dozens of gunshots” as she and others ducked for cover in a media tent. The area outside the White House was sealed with yellow tape, and investigators placed dozens of orange evidence markers on the sidewalk. Medical items, including gloves and emergency kits, were at the scene, AP reported.The incident happened roughly two hours after Trump posted on Truth Social that he was in the Oval Office working on a possible peace deal with Iran. Journalist Nick Sortor wrote on X, “NO Secret Service agents were injured. And President Trump is SAFE, thank God. Unfortunately, a bystander was shot, and is in serious condition. Pray.”The shooting comes amid a series of recent security incidents near high-profile sites in Washington, DC. These include a National Guard ambush near the White House in November last year. It also follows an alleged attempt to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month.Anita Goswami is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she primarily covers Indian and international news. With four years of industry experience, she has led coverage of Indian General elections, Assembly elections, and national polls in the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Her reporting covers global wars and major events, including Operation Sindoor, Sheikh Hasina's ouster and the Mahakumbh Mela. She verifies facts and uses clear sources to ensure accurate reporting. As former Chief Copy Editor at Storytailors, she managed teams to produce top-quality content for networks like NDTV, Profit, CNBC-TV18, Upstox and News18. Her work is featured in NDTV, Meaww, and Global Pulse. Throughout her tenure, Anita has collaborated with and been mentored by top industry experts. When not reading, Anita can be found outdoors or at a bakery. Fields of interest: Indian political history, international elections, historical policy analysis, global conflicts, cultural events, Formula 1, art, media ethics and reporting on socio-political change over time.Read MoreSee Less